Deuteronomy 12:21

21 If you're too far away from the place that God, your God, has marked with his name, it's all right to slaughter animals from your herds and flocks that God has given you, as I've commanded you. In your own towns you may eat as much of them as you want.

Deuteronomy 12:21 Meaning and Commentary

Deuteronomy 12:21

If the place which the Lord thy God hath chosen to put his
name be too far from thee
Or rather "for" F8, or "seeing" the place will be too far from thee; for it is allowed before that they might kill and eat flesh for common food in their gates, ( Deuteronomy 12:15 )

then thou shalt kill of thy herd and of thy flock;
of thy oxen and of thy sheep, creatures used in sacrifice; but this was no bar to the use of them for common food also:

which the Lord hath given thee, as I have commanded thee;
( Deuteronomy 12:15 )

and thou shalt eat in thy gates whatsoever thy soul lusteth after;
flesh of any sort, lawful to be eaten.


FOOTNOTES:

F8 (yk) "cum", Pagninus, Montanus.

Deuteronomy 12:21 In-Context

19 And make sure that for as long as you live on your land you never, never neglect the Levite.
20 When God, your God, expands your territory as he promised he would do, and you say, "I'm hungry for meat," because you happen to be craving meat at the time, go ahead and eat as much meat as you want.
21 If you're too far away from the place that God, your God, has marked with his name, it's all right to slaughter animals from your herds and flocks that God has given you, as I've commanded you. In your own towns you may eat as much of them as you want.
22 Just as the nonsacrificial animals like the gazelle and deer are eaten, you may eat them; the ritually unclean and clean may eat them at the same table.
23 Only this: Absolutely no blood. Don't eat the blood. Blood is life; don't eat the life with the meat.
Published by permission. Originally published by NavPress in English as THE MESSAGE: The Bible in Contemporary Language copyright 2002 by Eugene Peterson. All rights reserved.